Have you ever heard of Szechuan cuisine? Some of us had never heard of Szechuan until the sauce became famous on the show Rick and Morty. There are many dishes that include Szechuan peppercorns as part of their list of ingredients. While it may be easy to find the peppercorns in countries like China, it can be difficult to find the peppercorns anywhere else. For this reason, it is important to know some substitutes for Szechuan peppercorns.
It can be difficult to find Szechuan peppercorns outside of China. Luckily, there are many substitutes that you can use to replace the peppercorns. You may need to search for some substitutes like Tasmanian pepper and grains of paradise. Other substitutes may already be in your kitchen, like lemon pepper seasoning and black pepper.
Continue reading to learn more about Szechuan peppercorns. Also, continue reading to learn about seven substitutes that you can use when you cannot find any Szechuan peppercorns.
What are Szechuan Peppercorns?
Szechuan peppercorns are a spice that originates from China. These peppercorns originate specifically from the Sichuan province in China.
The peppercorns are made using dried berries that come from the Zanthoxylum plant. They are used in Chinese cuisine and can be found more easily in China compared to in other countries throughout the world.
There are two types of Szechuan peppercorns. These varieties are green Szechuan peppercorns and red Szechuan peppercorns. The green Szechuan peppercorns have a flavor that is strong and is more citrusy and herbal. The red Szechuan peppercorns have a flavor that is more pine-like.
What Can I Use in Place of Szechuan Peppercorns?
Szechuan peppercorns are often used in Chinese cuisine. They are used in many noodle dishes, meat dishes, and stir-fries. These peppercorns are difficult to find in countries other than China. For this reason, it is important to be aware of the many different substitutes that you can use when you make a dish that requires Szechuan peppercorns.
Below you will find seven substitutes that you can use in recipes that require Szechuan peppercorns when you have no peppercorns available.
Tasmanian Pepper
Tasmanian peppers look similar to Szechuan peppercorns, even though the two are not related. This pepper comes from a shrub and originates in Australia.
Tasmanian pepper can be used as a spice, and it can be used for its medicinal properties. The fruit that comes from the plant the peppercorn comes from is used in aromatherapy.
This pepper works as a great substitute in stews, soups, and curries. When substituting tasmanian pepper for Szechuan peppercorns, you want to use an equal amount of tasmanian pepper for the amount of Szechuan peppercorns that are required.
Grains of Paradise
Grains of paradise originate from Africa. These grains can work as a substitute for Szechuan peppercorns. They are seeds of a plant in the ginger family and have a spicy, peppery flavor.
These small red-brown seeds have a flavor that will linger in your mouth after you have eaten something that includes them. These seeds have been known to be used to treat indigestion and colds.
To substitute grains of paradise for Szechuan peppercorns, you want to use a 2:1 ratio. For every measurement of peppercorn, you want to use two measurements of the grains of paradise.
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
Lemon pepper seasoning is often a mixture of granules of cracked black pepper and lemon zest. Many use this spice when it comes to chicken wings.
Lemon pepper seasoning is known to add a spicy flavor to many dishes. Some of these dishes include roasted veggies, pasta, and chicken. Since lemon pepper seasoning adds this spicy flavor to dishes, it can work well as a substitute for Szechuan peppercorns.
You want to use an equal amount of lemon pepper seasoning to the amount of Szechuan peppercorns that the recipe requires when substituting lemon pepper seasoning for the Szechuan peppercorns.
Tellicherry Peppercorns
Tellicherry peppercorns originate from India. These peppercorns are a type of black pepper. They are harvested when they are fully ripe and are sun-dried to preserve their flavor.
These peppercorns add spice to dishes that include them, which can make Tellicherry peppercorns a great substitute for Szechuan peppercorns. You can use Tellicherry peppercorns in both sweet as well as savory recipes.
The Tellicherry peppercorns are also known to be the highest quality of peppercorns, so you may want to use them as a substitute when you have no Szechuan peppercorns.
Ground Black Pepper, Ground Coriander Seeds, and Lemon Zest
If you have ground black pepper, coriander seeds, and some lemon zest, you can make a nice mixture that works perfectly as a substitute for Szechuan peppercorns. This mixture can improve the taste of your dish by adding a nice spicy flavoring.
You will use an equal amount of this mixture as the amount of Szechuan peppercorn required by the recipe when using this mixture as a substitution.
Sansho Powder
Sansho powder originates from Japan. It is made when berries from a Japanese pepper bush are ground into a powder that is green-brown in color.
When using this powder, it will give your mouth a similar numbing sensation to Szechuan peppercorns. It also has a tangy and spicy flavor that makes it a great substitute for Szechuan peppercorns.
Black Pepper
Another substitute for Szechuan peppercorns is black pepper. Black pepper is often used to incorporate a small hint of spice to your food. You most likely already have some black pepper in your home, so you may want to consider using it when you have no Szechuan peppercorns.
Final Thoughts
Szechuan peppercorns help to add spice to many dishes. These peppercorns are difficult to find outside of China, but there are many substitutes like lemon pepper seasoning and Tasmanian pepper that you can use.
